For years people held onto the belief that if they hopped on the treadmill, stairmaster, or any aerobic equipment for a period of time their body would become a calorie burning machine for hours afterward. However, a recently published study, tells us this theory is more hogwash than reality.
In this study, published in Exercise and Sports Science Reviews, researchers took 65 people that varied in weight, fitness level and girth measurements (lean to obese, sedentary to well trained etc.). Then they had the subjects cycle at varying intensities until they burned 400 calories, after which they stopped exercising. After this they were monitored in a lab for 24 hours.
The scientists found that moderate duration activity lasting less than 1 hour doesn’t boost 24-hour fat burning. This means that you aren’t a calorie burning machine after your morning workout when sitting at your desk job looking through Facebook (err, I mean working).
Now, this study shouldn’t underscore the value of exercise and the fact that the participants burned 400 calories while exercising. But, it does indicate that the “after-burn” is all but non-existent. And it adds credence to the importance of food intake in overall fat and weight loss. This may be especially true if you don’t vary your exercise routine and as a colleague of mine often says, “sit on an exercise bike pedaling slowly while flipping the pages of Cosmo.” Steady state exercise has it’s place but should be varied with interval training and tempo training for maximum results.
Here it is:Melanson, Edward L.; MacLean, Paul S.; Hill, James O. Exercise Improves Fat Metabolism in Muscle But Does Not Increase 24-h Fat Oxidation.Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 37(2):93-101, April 2009.
I'd be interested in the reference here so I can look up the article. Thanks!